Those who are convicted of violating the proposed law could face public censure, fines between $1,000 to $2,000 and up to a year in prison. Of course, the proposal failed to mention how one would determine the amount of gusto with which a citizen is singing. There are other stipulations in this bill as well.

All students at public and private schools would be required to memorize the anthem. It should be played in accordance with its original composition, a 2/4 time signature when played instrumentally and a 4/4 time signature when sang. It should be played at a tempo between 100 and 120 beats per minute. All people are required to stand and face the flag during the anthem, or the band and conductor if there is no flag. Casting contempt, dishonor or ridicule upon the national anthem is considered a violation of the law.

Should flag worship and national anthem singing be forced?

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The Philippine’s bill, which has to be approved by the Philippines Senate and President before becoming law, does provide a stipulation for those “whose faith or religious beliefs prohibit them from singing the national anthem.” They must “show full respect” and stand at attention, however.

“Some Filipinos don’t even know all the words to the national anthem,” Alonte said. Mired in a bloody drug war, the Philipines has more to worry about than mandating “singing with fervor.” Yet that isn’t how totalitarianism works. Patriotism will be mandatory.

Freedom of speech should be nonnegotiable, and that includes (and is certainly no limited to) reciting or singing songs and pledges deemed “honorary” by the government. That’s the definition of freedom. If one cannot burn the “symbol of freedom,” without political backlash, how free is that person?